Foreign policies have always played an important role in the movements of migrants. A number of essays in this volume show how the foreign policies of the United States and Germany have directly or inadvertently contributed to the influx from the former Yugoslavia, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the former Soviet Union. Now being faced with growing resistance to admit foreigners into their countries, both governments have once again been using foreign-policy instruments in an effort to change the conditions in the refugees' countries of origin which forced people to leave. This volume addresses questions such as which policies can influence governments to improve their human rights, protect minorities, end internal strife, reduce the level of violence, or improve economic conditions so that large numbers of people need not leave their homes.

Increasing international migration, the information revolution and democratization have propelled a globalization of the domestic politics of many states and, although diasporic politics is not new, emigrant political participation in homeland politics has grown as well as adapted to the new methods of the information revolution. This book examines the participation of emigrants in their home country politics. It considers the consequences of such participation for domestic and foreign policies in both host and home country, and explores the theoretical implications for democracy, nationalism, the state and the shape of world politics in the future. It includes detailed case studies of Turkish emigrants in Europe, the US and Saudi Arabia, Kurds in Europe, Israeli emigrants and the American Jewish community, Mexicans in the US, Chinese throughout the Pacific Rim, Indians in the US and Russians who found themselves outside Russia when the Soviet Union collapsed. By providing extensive documentation of emigrant political activity with significant impact on homeland politics and foreign policies, this work provides ammunition to the argument that international migration, globalization and transnational phenomena pose serious challenges to the state and the international system of states. It will be of interest to anthropologists, sociologists and area studies specialists as well as political science and international relations scholars.

Germany will spend around $6.6 billion to cope with an estimated 800,000 refugees expected to have entered the country in the year 2016; this reality indeed extending further into 2017. Despite this overwhelming number of people entering the country, Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that there is “no legal limit to the number of asylum seekers Germany will take in in the coming years.” The announcement by Merkel's coalition government arrived following Germany and Austria opening their borders to the large numbers of refugees making their way north and west from the Middle East, Africa and elsewhere. In particular, this statement came after the Syrian refugee crisis created the biggest refugee crisis the world has seen since the Second World War. Germany is seen as the immigration hub of Europe. It also happens to be the second most popular destination for immigrants after the United States of America. Germany is also the country in Europe with the highest numbers of foreign nationals to date. Germany established a new immigration law in 2005 was born out of a realization that it was coming to terms with a demographic crisis stemming from an ageing population and further complimented by a sharp decline national birth rates. In foresight, and within this unfortunate context, migration was seen by much of the German political class as an economic necessity, and the answer to the German economic and demographic time bomb. Between the years 2009 and 2014, annual net migration in Germany rose from 100,000 to 580,000 individuals. Moreover, the inflow of foreign nationals increased from 266,000 to 790,000 individuals. As of January 2015, approximately 10% of residents in Germany were foreign nationals, with around 12% born outside the country. Naturally, these figures have all risen significantly following Merkel’s decision to allow what has reached one million refugees and migrants into Germany across 2016 and moving into 2017. Moving from this reality, the research will focus on the importance of the compliance of Germany’s migration policy with International Refugee and Migration Law, as it is crucial for the country’s survivability and move forward throughout this phase of its history. The importance of the research lies in whether or not Germany’s migration policy towards the Syrian Refugees in particular complies with its duties toward international law embodied in the treaties and conventions it has committed to.

Migration and refugee movements are becoming increasingly prominent features of the millennial world. Persistent disparities in wealth and job opportunities and continued political conflict and repression impel growing numbers of people to seek work and safely outside their own countries. However, many governments and their citizens remain reluctant to open their borders to foreigners. For this reason, in one country after another, migration and refugee questions have become politically controversial, creating the need for a sound understanding of policy options and their implications.This book brings together five international scholars who survey key aspects of the international experience of migration and refugee policies. In Part II, drawing on the lessons presented by international experience, a team of South African experts address the thorny migration and refugee issues confronting that country's new democratic government.>

This work provides an examination of US refugee policy since the 1960s, particularly as it has been applied to Cuba, Haiti and Central America. The authors also address world-wide refugee problems, proposing ideas for the 21st century.

A comprehensive assessment of the economic, social and cultural impacts of migration within South Asia This book addresses the concept of migration with the aim of building theory as well as drawing from existing theories to understand South Asian realities. It highlights the less-explored cultural dimensions of migration—music, literature, cinema and art—thereby extending migration research into the realms of security discourse. The author explores how ideas migrate along with people, and the extent to which the process of transformation and adaptation of these ideas is necessitated by social interactions in the adopted society. Since South Asia is culturally diverse, most migrants need to adapt themselves to unfamiliar social milieus, and this juxtaposition finds expression in rich and diverse cultural forms. The book will be indispensable to researchers and scholars of migration studies, South Asia studies, social anthropology and international relations.

This book focuses on the Mediterranean/MENA migration crisis and explores the human security implications for migrants and refugees in this troubled region. Since the Arab uprisings of 2010/2011, the Middle East and North Africa region has experienced major political transformations and called into question the legitimacy of states in the region. Displaced populations continue to suffer due to the major conflicts in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, causing fragmentation and dis-integration of communities. Contributors to this volume analyze how and why this crisis differs significantly from previous migration/refugee flows in the region, explain the historical and political antecedents of this crisis which have played a part in its shaping, and explore the relationship between human security and the protection of vulnerable individuals and groups.

In the globalized era, a higher level of attention is given to various migration, immigration, and refugee movements. By undertaking research on these concepts, their impact on contemporary society can be better understood. Social Considerations of Migration Movements and Immigration Policies is a pivotal reference source for the latest scholarly material on the socio-economic effects of immigration and refugee crises on regional and international levels. Including a range of innovative perspectives such as peace building, political refugees, and civil protection, this book is ideally designed for researchers, academics, graduate students, policy makers, and practitioners interested in the social dimensions of migration and immigration policies.